KENYA: Catholic Bishops Appeal to Medical Practitioners to Protect the Life of Unborn Child
The
Catholic Bishops of Kenya have issued a statement in response to the Report and
Policy recommendations of August 2013 on incidence and complications of Unsafe
Abortions in Kenya by the African Population and Health Research Center, Ipas –
Health Access Rights Africa Alliance, Ministry of Health and Guttmacher
Institute, which also appeared in both the Standard pg. 4 and Nation pg. 1
& 2 Newspapers of Thursday, 22 August, 2013 respectively.
Catholic Bishops of Kenya have issued a statement in response to the Report and
Policy recommendations of August 2013 on incidence and complications of Unsafe
Abortions in Kenya by the African Population and Health Research Center, Ipas –
Health Access Rights Africa Alliance, Ministry of Health and Guttmacher
Institute, which also appeared in both the Standard pg. 4 and Nation pg. 1
& 2 Newspapers of Thursday, 22 August, 2013 respectively.
 |
| HE. John Cardinal Njue, KCCB chairman and his assistant Bishop Philip Anyolo |
In
their statement the bishops said they were disturbed by the abortion figures
released by the study and therefore appealed to medical practitioners to never
prescribe abortion as a solution to family, economic, and social problems.
their statement the bishops said they were disturbed by the abortion figures
released by the study and therefore appealed to medical practitioners to never
prescribe abortion as a solution to family, economic, and social problems.
The
Bishops reaffirmed that life is sacred from conception until natural death and
that taking of human life away, whether born or unborn, amounts to crime. They
further appealed to the government and law makers to shun evil and uphold the
dignity of lives including the lives of unborn children in the spirit of the
right to life for all.
Bishops reaffirmed that life is sacred from conception until natural death and
that taking of human life away, whether born or unborn, amounts to crime. They
further appealed to the government and law makers to shun evil and uphold the
dignity of lives including the lives of unborn children in the spirit of the
right to life for all.
The
report which dominated the local media in the month of August was published by
the African Population and Health Research Centre and it showed that in 2012
Kenya had the highest abortion rates in the region.
report which dominated the local media in the month of August was published by
the African Population and Health Research Centre and it showed that in 2012
Kenya had the highest abortion rates in the region.
The
report further said that three in five married women are procuring abortions;
and about half of all patients seeking medical care after unsafe abortion were
under 25, with 17 per cent aged between 10 and 19 years.
report further said that three in five married women are procuring abortions;
and about half of all patients seeking medical care after unsafe abortion were
under 25, with 17 per cent aged between 10 and 19 years.
Below
is the full text of the Press Release by KCCB.
is the full text of the Press Release by KCCB.
KENYA CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
PRESS RELEASE
“Before
I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated
you.”
I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated
you.”
(Jeremiah
1:5).
1:5).
We
the Catholic Bishops in Kenya have carefully studied the Report and Policy
recommendations of August 2013 on incidence and complications of Unsafe
Abortions in Kenya by the African Population and Health Research Center, Ipas –
Health Access Rights Africa Alliance, Ministry of Health and Guttmacher
Institute, which also appeared in both the Standard pg. 4 and Nation pg. 1
& 2 Newspapers of Thursday, 22 August, 2013 respectively.
the Catholic Bishops in Kenya have carefully studied the Report and Policy
recommendations of August 2013 on incidence and complications of Unsafe
Abortions in Kenya by the African Population and Health Research Center, Ipas –
Health Access Rights Africa Alliance, Ministry of Health and Guttmacher
Institute, which also appeared in both the Standard pg. 4 and Nation pg. 1
& 2 Newspapers of Thursday, 22 August, 2013 respectively.
We
are particularly disturbed by the abortion figures released by the study
carried out by the Ministry of Health in Kenya and the African Population on
Health Research Centre (APHRC) revealed that 465,000 abortions were carried out
in the year 2012.
are particularly disturbed by the abortion figures released by the study
carried out by the Ministry of Health in Kenya and the African Population on
Health Research Centre (APHRC) revealed that 465,000 abortions were carried out
in the year 2012.
We
denounce all forms of abortion procedures and hold that human life begins at
conception and must be respected and protected absolutely.
denounce all forms of abortion procedures and hold that human life begins at
conception and must be respected and protected absolutely.
We
reaffirm that life is sacred from conception until natural death and that
taking of human life away, whether born or unborn, amounts to crime. GOD alone
is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end. No one but HIM can under
any circumstances claim the right to take away life. As such, human life must
always be defended and recognized as a gift of God that guarantees the future
of humanity.
reaffirm that life is sacred from conception until natural death and that
taking of human life away, whether born or unborn, amounts to crime. GOD alone
is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end. No one but HIM can under
any circumstances claim the right to take away life. As such, human life must
always be defended and recognized as a gift of God that guarantees the future
of humanity.
We
appeal to all Kenyans to resist any attempts to sneak in abortion into our
Constitution by deliberately seeking to scare Kenyans through questionable
statistics with the sole aim of legalizing abortion.
appeal to all Kenyans to resist any attempts to sneak in abortion into our
Constitution by deliberately seeking to scare Kenyans through questionable
statistics with the sole aim of legalizing abortion.
We
insist that, it ‘is deceptive to treat abortion as a panacea to health,
happiness and prosperity of a woman. On the contrary, available research
indicates that women who procure abortion suffer deep physical, psychological
and spiritual wounds; and can never undo’ any circumstances, find fulfillment
in the decision to terminate the pregnancy.
insist that, it ‘is deceptive to treat abortion as a panacea to health,
happiness and prosperity of a woman. On the contrary, available research
indicates that women who procure abortion suffer deep physical, psychological
and spiritual wounds; and can never undo’ any circumstances, find fulfillment
in the decision to terminate the pregnancy.
We
further insist that, medical practitioners should never prescribe abortion as a
solution to family, economic, and social problems. Instead, they are called to
always tell their patients the truth: that abortion kills an innocent child,
destroys the essence of motherhood, blinds the conscience of the child’s father
and has devastating effects on the family; and that any attempt to legalize it
amounts to killing the conscience of the Nation.
further insist that, medical practitioners should never prescribe abortion as a
solution to family, economic, and social problems. Instead, they are called to
always tell their patients the truth: that abortion kills an innocent child,
destroys the essence of motherhood, blinds the conscience of the child’s father
and has devastating effects on the family; and that any attempt to legalize it
amounts to killing the conscience of the Nation.
We
call upon parents to continuously teach their children the fundamental truth of
human life; that life begins at conception and must always be defended and
protected.
call upon parents to continuously teach their children the fundamental truth of
human life; that life begins at conception and must always be defended and
protected.
We
caution against calls for more resource allocation for abortion and post
abortion care, and advise that more attention and resources be channeled
towards promoting and upholding good morals in the society. This will prevent
the need for abortion in the first place.
caution against calls for more resource allocation for abortion and post
abortion care, and advise that more attention and resources be channeled
towards promoting and upholding good morals in the society. This will prevent
the need for abortion in the first place.
We
appeal to the Government and law makers to shun evil and uphold the dignity of
lives including the lives of unborn children in the spirit of the right to life
for all.
appeal to the Government and law makers to shun evil and uphold the dignity of
lives including the lives of unborn children in the spirit of the right to life
for all.
We
strongly appeal to all Kenyans of good will, to continually protect human life
and dignity by being pro-life and resist any attempt to promote material
development at the expense of the more lasting value of holistic human
development.
strongly appeal to all Kenyans of good will, to continually protect human life
and dignity by being pro-life and resist any attempt to promote material
development at the expense of the more lasting value of holistic human
development.
Legalizing
Abortion is Legalizing Murder!
Abortion is Legalizing Murder!
Signed by:
Rt. Rev. Philip Anyolo
Vice Chairman – Kenya
Conference of Catholic Bishops
Conference of Catholic Bishops
For
His Eminence John
Cardinal Njue
Cardinal Njue
Chairman – Kenya
Conference of Catholic Bishops
Conference of Catholic Bishops
Dated: 2nd September
2013
2013
SOURCE: KCCB
Communications office
Communications office
